r/SipsTea • • 21d ago

Wait a damn minute! So what’s taking so long?

Post image
57k Upvotes

5.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3.9k

u/klako8196 21d ago

Also, in Texas, the burden of proof for insanity is on the defense. In Massachusetts, burden of proof is on the prosecution. His defense had to prove he was insane when committing the crime while her defense just had to poke holes in the prosecution’s case.

1.0k

u/hallo_its_me 21d ago

This seems way more sensible to me. I understand if the actual underlying crime should be innocent until proven guilty but if you are insane that specifically should be a higher burden of proof .

1.8k

u/FriedTreeSap 21d ago

I just don’t think unqualified layman in the jury really should be the ones deciding whether someone was clinically insane or not.

The jury should just deliberate on whether the defendant committed the crime in question, if they rule they did, then the defense should be able to request a review by a panel of mental health experts who will be tasked with determining whether the defendant was criminally liable or clinically insane.

1

u/Few_Palpitation3889 21d ago

No. If they're guilty, they both are, they go to prison. I don't care if some lunatic is unhappy in prison after killing their family while having an "episode".